"The Bear" — Handmade Pencil-Art Football by William "Bill" Gosa | NOT FOR SALE — Memorial Display RIP BROTHER

You will never see another Bill Gosa ball.

Bill was a craftsman unlike any other — he made many footballs from cedar, pencil-drawing each one with extraordinary attention to detail. He sold many painted balls, but this one was his Mona Lisa: a perfect pencil-rendered portrait of Coach Bear Bryant on one side, and a houndstooth-patterned script Alabama "A" on the other.

Mr. Gosa was my best friend for many years, and it took me just as long to trade him out of it. No money ever changed hands between us — just a trade for something Bill had wanted for a long time. Two happy traders. He left with a big grin on his face, and so did I.

A month or so later, I got the call that my friend — whom I loved like a blood brother — had died in an automobile accident.

THIS BALL IS NOT FOR SALE. I just couldn't resist pranking Bill one more time. At least I know he's not haunting my house — because if he had seen his Mona Lisa sitting here among the sale items, there would have been a disturbance. I'll put a price here just to push the listing through — but this is simply a way to get Bill's work in circulation and seen by the world.

His mother has some paintings that are out of this world. Maybe she'll part with them someday. I'll keep you posted.

In memory of my friend, William "Bill" Gosa. RIP — I'll see you on the other side, brother. 🤍